Hanger for signal-lanterns



(No Model.)

- E. R. KNOWLES.

HANGER FOR SIGNAL LANTERNS.

Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDYVARD R. KN OW'LES, OF MIDDLETOIVN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THESCI'IUYLER ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

HANGER FOR SlGNAL-LANTERNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,320, dated February25, 1896.

Application filed December 5,1893. Serial No. 492,864. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. KNOWLES, of Middletown, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hangers for Signal-Lanterns, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to systems of signaling by means of lanterns, moreespecially used on shipboard, though equally well adapted for similarwork on shore. In the system which Ishall hereinafter describe tenelectric lamps are arranged in a row, alternating red and white. Bymeans of a suitable switch apparatussnch, for instance, as is describedin application Serial No. 468,&S9any one or more of these lamps isbrought into circuit, and by means of an arbitrary code the vari ouscombinations of red and white lights are used to convey intelligence toa distant ship or other point.

My invention aims to improve the mode of suspending the lights, so thatthe lanterns may always hang vertically, and so that there maybe nodanger of the string of lanterns becoming twisted or otherwise fouled.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved hanger,broken in order to show both ends of it. Fig. 2 is a cross-section ofthe conducting cable, on an enlarged scale.

The lanterns are attached to two parallel lines A, preferably small ironropes, the lower ends of which are connected with separate fixed eyes orstaples B by means of turnbuckles C. The upper ends of the ropes arefastened to the ends of a yoke D, to the mid dle of which is secured astay E which runs to a yard-arm or other suitable point of support. Byfastening the lower ends of the ropes A to separate eyes they are heldparallel at all times and prevented from twisting one upon the other.

At the points where the lanterns are to be attached a cross-bar orscotchman F is lashed to the ropes. The scotchman has an eye in themiddle and a T-head at each end, the arms of the T lying parallel withthe rope A and being fastened thereto by a lashing of cord or wire.

The lanterns G are preferably made to hold two incandescent lamps, oneabove the other, so that five lanterns are required. They have a bail gat top and bottom, the upper bail being connected with the eye of thescotchman. T0 the lower bail is attached one end of a chain or othersuitable connection H which runs to another scotchman and can be readilylengthen ed or shortened, whereby the lantern can be adjusted to hangvertically whatever may be the inclination at which the ropes A arestretched. This construction keeps the lanterns always in the middle ofthe space between the two ropes. They cannot slide about or work to oneend or the other of the s'cotchma-n, but being held at the middle pointare kept all in line. There-is also less danger of their fouling theropes or kinking the branch conductors. A cable I is lashed to one ofthe ropes A, containing ten insulated conductors 1 2 3, &c., and acommon return-wire 0. Each conductor runs to its own lamp, twoconductors and a branch return-wire being taken off at each lantern.These may enter the lantern at each end, as shown at'i, but arepreferably connected at the middle of the lantern, as shown at 2 Thecable runs to any suitable part of the ship, where it is connected bymeans of a contact-box I with a suitable circuit-controlling switch incircuit with a source of electric energy.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- In a signalingsystem, a hanger for the signal-lanterns, composed of two parallelropes, turnbuckles connecting the lower ends of said ropes to separatefixed supports, a yoke secured to the upper ends of said ropes, and aseries of scotchmen secured to said ropes, each scotchman having aT-head at each end, and an eye at the middle, in combination with aseries of lanterns containing electric lights, each lantern having abail at the upper end for hanging it to the eye in a scotchman, and achain or other adjustable connection at the lower end running to the eyein an adjacent lower scotchman, and a cable containing insulatedelectric conductors fastened to one of the hanger-ropes, said conductorsbeing successively led out to the lanterns between the scotchmensupporting the same, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EDXVARD R. KNOVLES.

Vitnesses:

D. J. GLAZIER, J 0s. T. ELLIOTT.

